BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Alabama's crackdown onillegal immigrants, widely seen as the toughest in the United States, has cost the state's economy up to $10.8 billion, according to a new study.
The Alabama law, passed in June, requires police to detain people they suspect of being in the U.S. illegally if they cannot produce proper documentation when stopped for any reason, among other measures.
The cost-benefit analysis by University of Alabama economist Samuel Addy estimated up to 80,000 jobs were vacated by illegal immigrants fleeing the crackdown, costing Alabama's economy up to $10.8 billion.
8 comments:
luckily itll save them trillions in the long run! good job alabama!
maybe muhammad omalley is hoping they'll come here so he can tax them! Oh that's right they can't report income and get all the freebies!!
I don't understand this. How has it cost the "economy" this money?? Were the jobs not filled by someone else? Maybe they do not have any unemployment in that state. I suspect some hidden motive behind this report. You may be sure we are not getting the whole story.
To 9:31, perhaps you assume that every person is interchangeable and that anyone can do the job of anyone else. That's just not the case. The jobs that weren't filled because these immigrants left Alabama were indeed not filled. The economic activity these immigrants created through their work and their consumption disappeared.
Those who think that we can simply get rid of all the illegal immigrants and then the unemployed citizens will take their jobs are out of touch with reality. As this Alabama study shows, that just doesn't happen.
It's an indisputable fact that immigration creates economic growth. That's true even if the immigration is illegal. Those pushing for a "deport them all" policy are pushing for a policy that will tank our economy. That's a fact.
10:08...your "theory is flawed, and that's all it is. Resetting all the wrongs these political morons have pushed onto this country has to start somewhere and yes, it will be painful. Grasp the bigger picture-plug the leak, fix it and the sinking ship will start to float again. Stealing, breaking my country's laws,being illegal, etc.. just does not fly...
To 2:01, no, my theory isn't flawed, since it's not a theory. It's a fact that's been proven over and over when people look at the effects immigrants have on economic growth and job creation. The presence of immigrants, even illegal immigrants, is good for economies and good for job growth. Anyone who says any different has no facts to back up that statement.
The "sinking ship" that is our country isn't sinking because of foreigners who work here. It's sinking because of Big Government and too much government regulation in what was once a free market. However, those of you who support more laws to curtail illegal immigration are supporting policies that increase the size of government, increase the interference of government in our lives and businesses, and increase the meddling of government in the free market.
back to 2:20...So you have proven "data". And where does this "proven data" come from? Let me guess...a gov't sponsored report. Sometimes the data can be flawed or miscued to paint a better picture. Logically one has to think that maybe our problems of lack of resources are stemming from the consumption of these people that don't give back or support our society. These people are the people breaking our laws and not supporting our way of life. They bring crime, disease and ciaos. I don't support big gov't, but you have to have a balance and this is the wrong direction and it is completely obvious.
To 4:14, Joe doesn't allow links in the comments, but go to the Cato Institute website and do a search on the topic of immigration. It will give you a lot of resources. You may be especially interested in a recent article entitled "immigrants and the welfare state" that shows that immigrants (illegals included) don't consume all that much in government benefits. It's not the fault of immigrants that the government "lacks resources."
It may be "completely obvious" to you that illegal immigrants do all these bad things, but there is no factual basis for your views. Look at the evidence and then re-examine your views.
You don't support Big Government because you know that when government grows it deprives people of liberty and when it interferes in the free market, it destroys jobs and reduces economic growth. The same views you have about Big Government apply equally well to immigration. Immigration restrictions like you support deprive people (both citizens and non-citizens) of their liberty and interfere in the free market.
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